It serves as the unwanted icing on the cake of a campaign that has left a bad taste in Catalan country, with Sky Sports confirming after Saturday's curtain call that Gerardo Martino acknowledged he would step down after a season as coach:

In agreement with the club I am no longer the coach. I deeply regret not having achieved the goals that this club has always been set and achieved. These are great players. My greatest gratitude goes to the players. They have made me proud.

Messi's season was interrupted by injury, limiting the Argentine to a below-average 31 league fixtures, during which he netted 28 goals, three behind Pichichi winner and top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, per the official Real Madrid Twitter account:

The Portuguese makes the cut despite not being able to push Real past third place, starring alongside Champions League final opponent Diego Costa of Atletico Madrid, who is one of seven players from the championship-winning outfit to be included.

To see the Barca defenders go without nomination is less surprising. The side's attack was mercurial in scoring a massive 100 goals this league season, but Atletico can perhaps be considered evidence of how crucial a solid back line is to a title campaign, boasting one of the best defensive records in European football this season.

Further proof comes from the fact that Athletic Bilbao's AymericLaporte is the only player outside of Atletico Madrid's squad to make his way into the back five.

David Ramos/Getty Images

La Liga's lack of recognition for the Barca playing staff isn't all that surprising for CNN.com's Jonathan Stevenson, who recently discussed the transition of Barcelona "losing its soul," lauding Simeone and Atleti for their ahead-of-the-curve ways.

In the wake of Pep Guardiola's 2012 exit from the club and with veterans such as CarlesPuyol, Victor Valdes, Eric Abidal and others having left or leaving the club in the months to come, it's a time of change at the Camp Nou.

With that in mind, the La Liga Team of the Year is recognition of the shift in dynamic, with what was not so long ago the continent's undeniable force going without celebration this season.